Dead fish reported on Weeks Bay; officials say oil spill does not appear to be cause

WEEKS BAY, Ala. -- Dead menhaden were reported washing up near the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Reserve on Thursday, but the fish kill does not appear to be due to oil pollution, reserve officials said today.

Hot weather and a lack of oxygen in the water is the most likely cause of the kill, a reserve spokeswoman said.

The reserve is on 6,000 acres near U.S. 98 on Weeks Bay. The bay has been blocked off with a series of barriers including boom and barges since oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill was reported in Mobile Bay near the mouth of Weeks Bay.